Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.

New Starbucks Prototype Opens on Capitol Hill

New Starbucks with large lettering sign referencing the original locaton.

Baristas Coulter and Michael get ready to serve the select reserve coffee.

Monday Oct. 18th was the opening day for the newly remodeled Starbucks on East Olive Way on Capitol Hill Seattle. This opening was much anticipated because of two earlier prototypes which opened on Capitol Hill with a drastic name and style departure from the well known Starbucks brand. (Secret Starbucks unveiled behind Green Curtain- 11/09)

Engaging Style
I ask Barista “Mikey” at the counter with a row of coffee beans what is aged coffee and he says it is coffee beans that have been aged 3-4 years.
” Once you start drinking aged coffee…It’s hard to go back”
I order the Aged Sulawasi, Clover expressed with its full woodsy flavor.

Kris Engskov as Starbucks Regional Vice President of the Pacific Northwest Region is around to answer questions and hopes this store will become “Capitol Hill’s Living Room” with its comfort and inviting atmosphere and I believe will likely to set the style for future starbuck stores.

Capitol Hill as Testing Market
Kris Engskov states “Capitol Hill is one of the most competitive espresso markets in America, you look at Seattle, Portland and San Francisco and this is the base for that. Its a great opportunity. This is the cutting edge of coffee”.
“We started this project 10 months ago and we talked to customers and asked if they could do anything, what would they want? They gave us alot of feedback.” Completely green built to LEED specifications the store also offers Beer and Wine and food plates that also go with coffee.

Starbucks pastry and plates

This particular Starbucks has been a Starbucks for 11 years and well known in the community. Unlike the previous two stores (Roy Street Coffee and Tea and 15th Ave ) which were more laboratory stores, the Olive Way store seems more refined, relaxed and open. Kris Engskov doesn’t anticipate changing the name of the store from its original Starbucks.
I also asked Kris Engskov if the showcase store will go Nation wide or International? Kris says “This store represents the best of what we are doing in design today”.
Engskov points out the community table came from local Garfield high school flooring (Bruce Lee did demonstrations at Garfield, the same famous school Jimi Hendrix and Quincy Jones attended). Chairs are from the University of Washington and the Coffee Bar is made from fallen Northwest wood.

Inside of the new prototype Starbucks

Is this the most expensive Starbucks in the world? Engskov won’t mention how much it took to remodel this Starbucks but did mention it would cost $400,000 to build this building new.

Starbucks wraparound deck overlooks Seattle

This new store has another First – the first Starbucks to have a deck and beer and wine offering and of note, all of the plants in the landscaping are indigenous to the region.
The menu after 4:00pm includes specialty plates of Salumi & Olives, Mediterranean Mezze, Artisan Fruit, Nut & Cheese and the wine List features Northwest wines such as Snoqualmie “Naked (Organic Riesling) or Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon.

A selection of wine offered at Starbucks

With the wine and cheese, wraparound deck, fireplace, view of downtown, special reserve coffee, red velvet curtains, I am starting to wonder if Starbucks isn’t starting to romanticize its customers?
I am sipping my aged coffee and indeed, it has a wonderful flavor. I will go back.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.